Here are some quick tips to implement in your next group program:
12 Golden Nuggets for Your Group Program
Copyright 2005-7, Jennifer Britton
Facilitation:
v The Latin roots of the word faciltiation are "facilis" or to make easy. How can you make the process easy for your participants? For yourself?
v When in doubt, ask the participants. A facilitator does not need to have all the answers. Draw on the life experience and knowledge of the group.
v Ensure to adapt your facilitation style and activities to meet the learning needs and styles of all participants. Remember that some people have a learning preference to visuals, others to hearing, and others by touch.
Program Design:
v Expect to deliver 80% of your content. One of the most common pitfalls for new trainers/workshop leaders is that too much information is packed into too short a time. Ensure that you have built into your program enough time for participants to integrate their learning and set an action plan for transferring their learning back to work and home.
v When designing keep in mind the principles: Need to know, Nice to know, and Where to Go
v Remember that adults can listen with understanding for 90 minutes, 20 minutes for retention. To boost retention, adults need to be involved about every 8 minutes. This translates to the need for change of methods every 8-10 minutes (i.e. ask the group a question, show a video, undertake an activity).
v Review, review, review to reinforce learning[1]
v Involve difficult participants in the process. Have them flipchart, keep the time etc.
Meeting Facilitation:
v Spend time at the start of a session having the group develop ground rules that everyone agrees upon. Post these and refer back to them as necessary.
v Ensure that participants go away with something. The development of a small booklet in which they can take notes in can be a very useful tool
[1]Some techniques which you can use for review include:
v Small group discussion at the end of a session/day with small groups presenting in plenary on the main points
v Have individuals discuss with a learning partner or write individually in the course notebook:
o the key salient points of the session and/or
o what they are taking away to apply to their work
v Have groups draw murals representing the main points of the learning at the end of the day/workshop. Allocate time for the groups to walk around the room and "view the gallery"